New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has prepared a plan for developing two commercial complexes to improve its infrastructure and use its vacant sites to increase revenue collection. These commercial centres will be developed opposite Prithviraj Market and at a vacant plot adjoining Akbar Bhawan in Chanakyapuri.
The projects were announced by NDMC chairman Keshav Chandra in its budget proposals for the financial year 2025-26.
Opposite Prithviraj Market and next to Lok Nayak Bhawan, NDMC has single-storey vacant flats which were occupied by NDMC employees earlier. “The project for the commercialisation of this complex includes demolishing the entire area and then redeveloping the space for offices and shops. The demolition work is likely to start by March 2025,” said the chairman.Giving further details, an NDMC official stated that the complex would be developed along the similar lines as Lok Nayak Bhawan with at least eight storeys. “There will be provision for shops on the ground floor and offices on the above floors. We will be getting a built-up area of 1 lakh sq feet here. Of the total area, 18-20% will be used for retail and the rest for offices,” said the official.
The designing, feasibility study and tendering for this project are expected to be completed this financial year. However, any work at the site will start in the next financial year only after the plan gets approval in the council meeting. The council is presently working on the architecture and design of the commercial centre.
The official also said the existing open parking site for Khan Market and Prithviraj Market might be utilised for developing the underground multi-level parking facility.
Giving details of the second project for developing a multi-storey commercial complex at open land in front of Akbar Bhawan, the council in its budget stated that the tender for developing the multi-storey office complex with four basements and 10 storeys was invited by NDMC earlier.
“However, the tendering process was under litigation in Delhi High Court. Now, the court has disposed of the case, and the detailed estimate is under revision for processing the case further. Considering the initial plan was prepared four years ago, the revised plan may see an escalation in the cost. We are expecting to work out the tender process for the project in the next six months,” said the official.The council will get a 95,000 sq feet built-up area at this site, and similar to the above project, shops on the ground floor and offices on the above floors will be developed here also.
